Amos-5 a total loss

Israel’s Spacecom Satellite Communications which operates the Amos fleet of communication satellites says that its Amos-5 craft is a total loss.

The satellite failed on Nov 21st and all attempts to communicate with it have failed.

Amos-5 is insured for some $158 million, and Dec 15 saw the company make a statement to the Tel Aviv stock exchange that it would be making a claim to the insurers. Spacecom expects the insurance payment to be made within 3 months.

Local experts suggest that the satellite suffered a total failure of its power supply systems.

As for Amos-5 itself it is drifting silently in space as an uncontrolled ‘Zombie’ satellite.